The Vampire. Cont'd (8)

In the months that passed Astrid quickly learned to control her yearning for the vampire whose face she had nearly forgotten. It almost seemed as if it never happened, that one night her imagination had gotten the better of her, painting the beautiful image of his house and immortal face in her mind and allowing her to bask in the comfort of it all.1

But she was awake now and no longer paid attention to anything that reminded her of her presense and in fact, she had even started looking at a few of the guys at school, showing interest in dating a few of them. 2

Casually she began to date a few of her suitors, usually only going out for dinner at a varying degree of different places from the local pub to the more ‘high class’ restaurants in the city and maybe a movie afterward. 3

However, it wasn’t until Oliver Deroches asked her out that she actually considered going steady with someone. 4

Oliver was known around the school for being the wise guy and class clown but to talk to him one on one was like talking to a scholar. Astrid had often told her friends in private, away from the ears of others, that Oliver was brilliant and it was all just an act. She also said that his looks did not hurt is cause one bit and at that they all giggled.5

Sandy blond hair with just the dimmest trace of freckles and the most alluring green eyes she had ever seen, Oliver just seemed so right after a disaster like Warren.6

“Was he a disaster?” She wondered aloud as she let her mind wander back to the face she could barely see.7

“Was who a disaster?” Oliver asked, his husky voice catching her off guard in the quiet of her room.8

“Oh, uh,” Astrid paused, needing to think fast on her feet, “just someone I read about…” She closed her eyes after finishing her fib, it was like tracing paper and she knew Oliver saw right through it.9

Abandoning his calculus homework on her bedroom floor he crawled up onto her bed and slid an arm around her, 10

“Astrid, you know you can tell me…”11

“I know, Oliver, I just don’t want to sound crazy.”12

Was she crazy? Astrid pondered the idea of telling him everything that she could remember about Warren, including his unnatural tendencies. 13

“I-I’ve never told anyone this before…”14

“I’m sure you’ll do fine, just start from the beginning.”15

Astrid took a deep breath before beginning her story,16

“Well, it all started when I went missing really, you remember, don’t you?”17

“Of course, that was only a few months back… No one thought you were coming back from that alive.”18

Neither did I, Astrid thought, shivering at the memory.19

“While I was gone some things happened but I can’t tell if any of it was real now or if I dreamt the whole thing. See, the guy who captured me-don’t look so surprised, Oliver. I’m sure somewhere in your mind you knew it was a guy who had taken me.20

We got to his place and argued a lot about whether or not I was leaving or staying but more importantly, he never actually laid a hand on me. He was so gentle and patient after we argued the first time… It felt as if he had some sort of connection with me which is preposterous I know, I only knew him for a week or so, not even… But still, there was something there. 21

For such a long time after I came home I couldn’t focus on anything accept him! It was as if my whole world had turned upside down and revolved around this-this monster…”22

Astrid nearly choked on the last word, forcing it from her mouth and out into the air in an attempt to take the bitter taste from her.23

“Go on…” Oliver suggested, stroking her hair ever so gently in a soothing way.24

“Every time I came home from school I swore he had been here but of course I had no proof… And why would someone who let me go stalk me? It terrifies me to know that he’s still out there and that if I saw him now I might not remember who he is… I can’t see his face anymore.”25

Oliver couldn’t help but be struck by those words and they way Astrid had said them. Could she possible miss him? No, that wasn’t even logical. Astrid wasn’t stupid enough to fall for some guy who could have killed her. But no, the way she said it, ‘I can’t see his face anymore.’ There was something wrong with it, something that was unsettling about her relationship with this pervert.26

“Oliver?”27

“Hm?” Quickly he was brought back to reality, turning his attention back to the girl in his arms, 28

“Are you alright? Oh I’ve said too much, haven’t I? I hope I didn’t upset you… It would have been best if I didn’t say anything at all. I should have just kept quiet.”29

Carefully, with grace and ease, Oliver brought his lips to hers which quieted her rambling. The two held their places with Oliver’s hand rested gently on her cheek and Astrid’s arms wrapped around him. He could feel her quivering in his grasp so he tightened his hold on her.30

“I’m fine, Astrid.” He replied once the two had broken away, “I was just digesting everything that you said. It sounds like you went through a lot with this guy…”31

“It wasn’t even just that but for the longest time after it felt like he was in me, like he was a part of me.”32

Taking note of the look on his face Astrid quickly wished she hadn’t said anything to him about Warren or the situation at all. 33

“Did he…” Oliver paused, trying to wrap his tongue around the words, “Did he rape you?”34

Astrid shook her head, shocked by what Oliver was suggesting, “No, he didn’t lay a hand on me in that way, not once.” In the back of her mind however, she couldn’t help but wonder about the few days she was unconscious for and it didn’t take long for her mind to create stories and scenarios.35

“Let’s just talk about something else, okay?” She suggested, gathering her history papers in front of her.36

“We should probably just finish our homework; I’ve got to leave after supper anyway.”37

“Oh… Well okay.” Astrid dropped her blurred gaze to her messily collected pile of paper, pretending to be absorbed in it while Oliver left her side, resuming his place on the floor.38

***39

The two ate supper quietly, only speaking when Astrid’s parents asked questions about their days or upcoming events that the two might be interested in. 40

Oliver’s family, as things turned out, were heavily involved in the church so Astrid couldn’t help but feel unwelcomed while being around them. In her mind she knew that none of them knew what she had encountered but the looks she had been given jarred her into thinking otherwise.41

“We’ve actually got a missions trip coming up,” Oliver explained to the awe of her father, “We’re heading to Africa and a few other places with medicines, food, bibles and crucifixes.”42

“That is a great idea,” Astrid’s dad said, “Your parents must be so thrilled that you’re avidly involved in the church.” 43

“They are, sir.” Oliver replied with a grin that was nearly a mile long, “Keeps me out of trouble and all that.”44

“It doesn’t keep you out of trouble at school,” Astrid interjected with a snicker, “You still get sent to the office.”45

“Hey now, that’s only because I have a loud sense of humour and I like making other people laugh…”46

Astrid watched as her parents admired Oliver and how he had recovered from her point with ease. He was a quick thinker, and a parent pleaser, clearly.47

Stealing a glance at her mother Astrid noted she was looking back at her and the expression on her face was one that could be read loud and clear, ‘He’s a keeper.’